blissgarden.

When to plant in Duarte, CA

USDA Zone 10a

Here are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Duarte, California — all computed from Duarte's nearest NOAA weather station.

In zone 10a, frost is a minor factor for Duarte — most perennials thrive, and annual vegetables can go out early and stay late.

Station · MT WILSON CBS · 13.5 km
Last spring frost
April 28
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
November 15
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
201 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for DuarteA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Duarte: last spring frost around April 28, first fall frost around November 15, about 201 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

Frost probability

MT WILSON CBS · 1991–2020

The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Duarte’s own odds, recorded at MT WILSON CBS.

Frost-probability curves for DuarteProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around April 28 and the first fall frost around November 15, giving about 201 frost-free days.
Last spring frostFirst fall frostbold = 32°F · thin = 28°F / 36°F · dot = 50% date · band = 10–90% window
ThresholdSPRING 10%SPRING 50%SPRING 90%FALL 10%FALL 50%FALL 90%
36°FJun 4May 15Apr 21Oct 3Oct 30Nov 19
32°FMay 27Apr 28Mar 31Oct 18Nov 15Dec 9
28°FMay 10Apr 8Feb 28Nov 5Dec 4Dec 29

Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.

What to plant now

TODAY · JULY 19
Fall sowin 7 days
Brussels Sprouts
July 26August 9
Fall sowin 21 days
Rutabaga
August 9August 23

Add these crops to your calendar (.ics) ↓

Full-year planting calendar

Start indoorsTransplantDirect sowFall sow

Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Duarte, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 18 km · complete 32°F normals

When stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.

MT WILSON CBS
Primary
14 km · 1740 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 28
FALL
Nov 15
SAN GABRIEL FIRE DEPT
16 km · 111 m elevation
SPRING
Jan 4
FALL
Jan 2
PASADENA
18 km · 263 m elevation
SPRING
Jan 8
FALL
Jan 7

Duarte planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Duarte, CA?

Duarte's average last spring frost falls near April 28 — the 50% mark at 32°F in the 1991–2020 normals. Hold tender transplants until the risk has passed, then plant out.

When is the first fall frost in Duarte, CA?

The first fall frost in Duarte typically arrives around November 15 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.

What hardiness zone is Duarte in?

Duarte is in USDA hardiness zone 10a. In zone 10a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.

How long is the growing season in Duarte?

Duarte has about 201 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 28) and first fall frost (November 15).

When should I plant tomatoes in Duarte?

For Duarte, sow tomatoes indoors about March 3–March 17 and move the seedlings out around May 5, after the last spring frost.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Duarte

An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Duarte’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at MT WILSON CBS, 14 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.

Cite this page
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Duarte, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 10a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00046006. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/duarte.
When to Plant in Duarte, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 10a — BlissGarden